Pointe du Hoc is located halfway between Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. Its vertical cliff of 82 to 98 ft (25 to 30 m) dominates the English Channel. Upon launching Operation Overlord, its cannon battery was considered a direct threat, even though it was actually a dummy. The position was taken within 15 minutes by the US Rangers, but the expected reinforcements had left for Omaha Beach. Alone, the soldiers repelled three attacks from the Germans over three days, almost without food or ammunition. The many shell craters still visible today bear witness to the violence of the fight.